Car seat & booster law

Wisconsin

Q: What is the car seat law in Wisconsin in 2026?

Children under 1 or under 20 pounds must ride rear-facing. Children 1 to 3 (20 to 40 pounds) must be in a forward-facing harness. Children 4 to 7 (40 to 80 pounds and no taller than 57 inches) must be in a booster.

Q: Is the Wisconsin car seat law changing?

No. As of October 6, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Wisconsin car seat law is scheduled. Current law: Children under 1 (or under 20 pounds) must ride rear-facing. Children 1 to 3 (20 to 40 pounds) must be in a forward-facing harness. Children 4 to 7 (40 to 80 pounds and no taller than 57 inches) must be in a booster.

Q: What age can a child sit in the front seat in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin law sets no minimum age for riding in the front seat. The child restraint rules still apply: a car seat or booster is required until age 8 or 4'9". The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13. That is best practice, not a legal requirement in Wisconsin.

Q: When can my child stop using a booster in Wisconsin?

Once the child is 8 years old, weighs more than 80 pounds, or is taller than 57 inches. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt actually fits.

Q: Does Wisconsin require rear-facing car seats, and until what age?

Yes. In Wisconsin a child under 1, or under 20 pounds, must ride rear-facing. Children 1 to 3 ride in a forward-facing harness, and children 4 to 7 use a booster. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as the seat allows.

Q: Are taxis or Uber exempt from Wisconsin's car seat law?

No. Wisconsin's child restraint requirement applies to passenger vehicles, with no general taxi or rideshare exemption from the child seat rules.

Verified · OCT 2026

Quick answer · Wisconsin

A car seat or booster is required until your child is 8 years old or taller than 4'9".

Children under 1 (or under 20 pounds) must ride rear-facing. Children 1 to 3 (20 to 40 pounds) must be in a forward-facing harness. Children 4 to 7 (40 to 80 pounds and no taller than 57 inches) must be in a booster.

Rear-facing < 1 yr Forward 1+ yr Booster < 8 yr Belt 8+ yr

Wis. Stat. § 347.48(4) Read the statute

Car seat law checker

The legally required restraint, by state.

General information, not legal advice.

SeatChecker

Required vs recommended

What the law enforces, and what pediatricians advise. They are not the same.

The law requires

Minimum, or it's enforceable

Rear-facing until: Age 1
Booster until: Age 8 or 4'9"
Front seat: No age set in law

Pediatricians recommend

AAP: safer, not the law

Rear-facing until: To seat limit (often age 2+)
Booster until: 4'9", typically age 8 to 12
Front seat: Back seat until 13

AAP guidance is a safety best practice and is separate from Wisconsin's legal minimum. Pediatricians recommend rear-facing well past age 1 and a booster until the seat belt fits.

Every stage, by the law

Dual units shown throughout (in + cm, lb + kg). Rows marked Guidance are best practice, not a statutory requirement in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin car seat law requirements by restraint stage, age, height, weight, and statutory citation.
Stage	Age	Height	Weight	Citation
Rear-facing	Birth – 1 yr	—	or while less than 20 lb / 9 kg (under 8 yr)	Wis. Stat. § 347.48(4)
Forward-facing	1 yr – 8 yr	—	—	Wis. Stat. § 347.48(4)
Booster	until 8 yr	≤ 4'9" / 145 cm	≤ 80 lb / 36 kg	Wis. Stat. § 347.48(4)
Seat belt	8 yr +	or > 4'9" / 145 cm	or > 80 lb / 36 kg	Wis. Stat. § 347.48(4)
Back seat / front seat	Recommended < 13	—	—	Guidance

Rear-facing Wis. Stat. § 347.48(4)

Age: Birth – 1 yr
Weight: or while less than 20 lb / 9 kg (under 8 yr)

Forward-facing Wis. Stat. § 347.48(4)

Age: 1 yr – 8 yr

Booster Wis. Stat. § 347.48(4)

Age: until 8 yr
Height: ≤ 4'9" / 145 cm
Weight: ≤ 80 lb / 36 kg

Seat belt Wis. Stat. § 347.48(4)

Age: 8 yr +
Height: or > 4'9" / 145 cm
Weight: or > 80 lb / 36 kg

Back seat / front seat Guidance

Age: Recommended < 13

Frequently asked questions

What is the car seat law in Wisconsin in 2026?

Children under 1 or under 20 pounds must ride rear-facing. Children 1 to 3 (20 to 40 pounds) must be in a forward-facing harness. Children 4 to 7 (40 to 80 pounds and no taller than 57 inches) must be in a booster.

Is the Wisconsin car seat law changing?

No. As of October 6, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Wisconsin car seat law is scheduled. Current law: Children under 1 (or under 20 pounds) must ride rear-facing. Children 1 to 3 (20 to 40 pounds) must be in a forward-facing harness. Children 4 to 7 (40 to 80 pounds and no taller than 57 inches) must be in a booster.

What age can a child sit in the front seat in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin law sets no minimum age for riding in the front seat. The child restraint rules still apply: a car seat or booster is required until age 8 or 4'9". The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13. That is best practice, not a legal requirement in Wisconsin.

When can my child stop using a booster in Wisconsin?

Once the child is 8 years old, weighs more than 80 pounds, or is taller than 57 inches. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt actually fits.

Does Wisconsin require rear-facing car seats, and until what age?

Yes. In Wisconsin a child under 1, or under 20 pounds, must ride rear-facing. Children 1 to 3 ride in a forward-facing harness, and children 4 to 7 use a booster. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as the seat allows.

Are taxis or Uber exempt from Wisconsin's car seat law?

No. Wisconsin's child restraint requirement applies to passenger vehicles, with no general taxi or rideshare exemption from the child seat rules.

Sources

Verified · OCT 2026

How Wisconsin compares

Where Wisconsin ranks among all 50 states, DC, and the US territories on each measure. Rankings compare legal minimums only and are not safety ratings.

Strictest car seat laws by state
#23 of 56, tied · 54 / 100
Rear-facing car seat laws by state
#26 of 32, tied · Age 1
Booster seat laws by state
#10 of 52, tied · Age 8
Car seat fines by state
Set by offense class, not ranked
Back seat laws by state
No back-seat law, not ranked

See all car seat law rankings →

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